Ohio Anti-Union Law Defeated

WASHINGTON -- Ohioans overturned a divisive anti-union law on Tuesday, delivering a significant defeat to Republican Gov. John Kasich and a victory to labor unions.

Ohio voters rejected Issue 2, a ballot referendum on Senate Bill 5, a measure that restricts collective bargaining rights for more than 360,000 public employees, among other provisions. Opposition to the legislation inspired large protests from residents around the state this year.

Immediately after the results came in, union officials sent out statements declaring success.

"One message rang loud and clear tonight in Ohio and across the country: those who spend their time scapegoating workers and pushing a partisan agenda will only strengthen the resolve of working people," said AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka. "From the very beginning, itâs been clear that Gov. Kasich, and indeed many politicians, were pushing an agenda that was about politics, not about solving our nationâs problems or creating jobs."

"Even after John Kasich locked the doors to democracy and shut out everyday heroes from the Statehouse, in the cold, blister of February -- working people never lost hope. We marched in the spring, circulated petitions in the summer and now, this fall, we delivered a win for all working people by defeating Issue 2, repealing Senate Bill 5," added Becky Williams, president of the Service Employees International Union, District 1199.

Kasich signed SB 5 into law on March 31, although the law was put on hold during the referendum campaign. The labor-aligned group We Are Ohio organized the anti-Issue 2 effort, and Building A Better Ohio led the pro-Issue 2 fight.

In elections that could have flipped state legislative houses, they did not win a single one.

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In VA Republicans effectively won back the Senate and picked up the largest margin in the House of Delegates.....ever. Over the past election cyle they have gone from 22 governors to 29. The states with Rep gov lead the country in job growth and to top it off, they have high approval ratings with ALL voters, not just Rep.

Public Policy Polling surveyed Florida voters and found 52 percent disapprove of Republican Gov. Rick Scott -- an improvement in his poll numbers that leaves Ohio Gov. John Kasich as the most unpopular governor the Democratic-leaning firm has polled in 2011.

Scott's favorability spread was 33/59 last June, and it improved to 36/52 in a survey conducted September 22-25. Independents thawed in their attitudes the governor, going from a 27/64 rating to 35/52.

Still, Scott would lose in a landslide if the election were held today, the poll finds. If his predecessor, Republican-turned-independent Charlie Crist, switched his affiliation to Democrat, he would beat the governor by a 51-38 margin. Alex Sink, the Democratic nominee whom he beat by one point in 2010, would win over Scott by a 52-41 margin. The good news for Scott is that he's not up for re-election until 2014.

Kasich is now the most unpopular governor polled by PPP in 2011. An August survey showed 36 percent of voters approved of him, while 53 percent disapproved.

You probably already knew that, but a new Quinnipiac University poll puts it into numbers. Not only do 57 percent of voters dislike Scott's job performance, the results are the worst rating for any governor in the 10 states that Quinnipiac surveys.

Even worse for Scott, the numbers aren't exactly trending his way. In a February poll, 22 percent disapproved of his performance. The number was 48 percent on April 6, and now 57 percent.

But Scott's press people keep repeating the mantra that he has to make tough decisions, and he's on the path to creating 700,000 jobs. Tell that to the 1,400 Broward teachers who were laid off because of budget cuts.

Public Policy Polling surveyed Florida voters and found 52 percent disapprove of Republican Gov. Rick Scott -- an improvement in his poll numbers that leaves Ohio Gov. John Kasich as the most unpopular governor the Democratic-leaning firm has polled in 2011.

Scott's favorability spread was 33/59 last June, and it improved to 36/52 in a survey conducted September 22-25. Independents thawed in their attitudes the governor, going from a 27/64 rating to 35/52.

Still, Scott would lose in a landslide if the election were held today, the poll finds. If his predecessor, Republican-turned-independent Charlie Crist, switched his affiliation to Democrat, he would beat the governor by a 51-38 margin. Alex Sink, the Democratic nominee whom he beat by one point in 2010, would win over Scott by a 52-41 margin. The good news for Scott is that he's not up for re-election until 2014.

Kasich is now the most unpopular governor polled by PPP in 2011. An August survey showed 36 percent of voters approved of him, while 53 percent disapproved.

You probably already knew that, but a new Quinnipiac University poll puts it into numbers. Not only do 57 percent of voters dislike Scott's job performance, the results are the worst rating for any governor in the 10 states that Quinnipiac surveys.

Even worse for Scott, the numbers aren't exactly trending his way. In a February poll, 22 percent disapproved of his performance. The number was 48 percent on April 6, and now 57 percent.

But Scott's press people keep repeating the mantra that he has to make tough decisions, and he's on the path to creating 700,000 jobs. Tell that to the 1,400 Broward teachers who were laid off because of budget cuts.

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Great news for Obama in 2012 with crucial swing states OH and FL having the country's most unpopular (Republican) governors